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The Reinvention of Missouri State's Tent Theatre
A summer tradition for 417-land, Missouri State’s 2025 Tent Theatre season kicks off in June with a slew of exciting changes.
by Jo Jolliff
Jun 2025
Looking ahead to its 63rd season, Missouri State’s Tent Theatre has come a long way since its humble beginnings in 1963—when, true to its name, performances were held in an actual tent. In October 2022 the program made a big upgrade with a move to the John Goodman Amphitheatre in the Judith Enyeart Reynolds Arts Park.
The 7,700-square-foot open-air amphitheater includes a permanent stage with removable seats and high-tech sound and lighting and was thanks to generous donations from actor and MSU alumnus John Goodman, Tim Reynolds and Judith Enyeart Reynolds.
This year, efforts have been underway at Missouri State to improve Craig Hall, which houses MSU’s theatre and dance department as well as Coger Theatre. “The renovations to Craig Hall will include a new state-of-the-art box office, exterior ramps that will make the building accessible on the south side of the building, a total revamp/relocation of the restroom area, and a lounge,” says Mark Templeton Managing Director of Tent Theatre. “We will continue to provide concessions in the lobby as in the past.”
The Craig Hall Tent Theatre box office closed to the public on May 12, at which point attendees can use the box office at Juanita K. Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts for in-person transactions. Templeton says on the day of performances there will be a ticketing kiosk adjacent to the John Goodman Amphitheatre so that anyone can take care of last-minute business.
This year’s Tent Theatre season includes three captivating productions. The first, Serenade: Summer Nights of Swing and Song runs June 12–14 and 18–21 and features a 17-piece big band to take audience members on a musical journey. Their second show, Vintage Hitchcock: A Live Radio Play is a mystery that will leave the audience in suspense and runs June 27–28 and June 30–July 2. And their last show of the season. Rodgers and Hammerstein’s A Grand Night for Singing immerses the audience in the golden age of musical theatre July 10–12 and 16–19.
